Three lawyers receive new rankings in Chambers UK 2022 and the family team is promoted to top band

Chambers UK has published its latest results that celebrate the leading law firms and lawyers in the UK. Highlights this year for Debenhams Ottaway include three lawyers receiving individual lawyer rankings for the first time and the family team being promoted to band 1.

Corporate and commercial lawyer James Brawn, who was promoted to partner earlier this year, is recognised as an ‘up and coming’ lawyer. A client comments “I have worked with James for a number of years and he is a superstar. He is always readily available to assist in his courteous and professional manner.”

Senior employment lawyer Michael Kerrigan enters the employment lawyers table as an ‘associate to watch’. “He knows how to look after a client and is very knowledgeable.” Partner Louise Attrup, who heads the employment team, keeps her ranking. “Louise Attrup is efficient and responsive and, most important for us, she answers a question and she does not sit on the fence.”

Senior family lawyer Natalie Lester also receives the ‘associate to watch’ accolade for the first time. A client comments “Natalie Lester has been fantastic. I have found her so reassuring and knowledgeable. I’ve been confident throughout the process that she is working hard to achieve my desired outcomes with resolution at the heart of the decision making, all whilst giving very good advice.”

The family team moved up the table this year to achieve band 1 status. Clients enthuses that the team is ”a pleasure to deal with in every way” and “the service I have had has been nothing short of excellent.” Head of family Helen Young maintains her band 1 lawyer ranking.  A client comments “Helen Young is knowledgeable, reliable, considerate and trustworthy; she has provided a first-class service, helping me through a very difficult divorce.”

The commercial property team and two of its partners maintain their Chambers real estate positions this year. Band 1 Ruth Boulton “is a pre-eminent commercial property lawyer…She is knowledgeable and communicative.” Jonathan Foy is recognised for offering “pragmatic and sensible advice and is knowledgeable in his field of expertise.” A client of the band 1 commercial property team comments “They are excellent; they show attention to detail, they understand my objectives, and I trust them with important work.”

Chambers UK is one of the leading legal directories. It benchmarks law firms and individual lawyers based independent research and recommendations by fellow professionals and clients. You can find a full list of our rankings on the Chambers website.